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HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled vs Ultrasone Edition 8: which should you buy?

Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled vs Ultrasone Edition 8, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled leads on 3 of 4 measures.

  • HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled
  • Ultrasone Edition 8
HearWiki score
84
-
Sound
9.4
-
Value
8.0
-
Price (USD)
$1,200
$1,200

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

Same generation

The HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled is 6 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price. For 6 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.

  • Arya Unveiled20246 yr newer
  • Edition 82018

Specifications

Arya UnveiledEdition 8
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$1,200
$1,200
HearWiki score
84
Not scored
Released
2024
2018
Availability
Still sold new
Discontinued
Driver
planar magnetic
40 mm dynamic
Driver type
planar
dynamic
Driver size
-
40 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
8 Hz - 65 kHz
6 Hz - 42 kHz
Impedance
27 Ω
30 Ω
Sensitivity
94 dB/mW
96 dB/mW
Active noise cancelling
No
No
Weight
413 g
260 g
Detachable cable
Yes
Yes
USB-C
-
No
Pad material
-
leather
Connector
6.35 mm
3.5 mm
Balanced connection
Yes
-

What reviewers said

HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled

The HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled is a high-end open-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers exceptional detail, tonal accuracy, and a balanced soundstage, making it a strong contender for audiophiles. Its grill-less design reduces reflections for cleaner audio, and it offers easy drivability for its class, though the exposed drivers require careful handling. With a neutral-to-warm tuning and broad frequency extension, it provides a compelling blend of technical performance and musicality.

  • Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and tonal accuracy
  • Pro:Spacious and well-defined imaging
  • Pro:Comfortable for extended listening sessions
  • Con:Exposed driver design requires careful handling
  • Con:Limited connectivity options out of the box
  • Con:Ear-cup material may not appeal to everyone

Ultrasone Edition 8

The Ultrasone Edition 8 is a premium closed-back wired headphone aimed at audiophiles, using a 40mm titanium-coated dynamic driver and S-Logic spatial processing to deliver a broad, open soundstage. Its lightweight 260g frame, plush leather ear pads, and detachable cable make it a comfortable, high-end choice for critical listening, though it lacks wireless or noise-canceling features.

  • Pro:Excellent soundstage and imaging for a closed-back design
  • Pro:Lightweight and comfortable with soft leather padding
  • Pro:Detachable cable adds versatility
  • Con:No active noise cancellation or wireless support
  • Con:High price point for a wired-only headphone
  • Con:Sensitivity of 96 dB may require a dedicated amplifier for best performance

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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New comparisonHiFiMAN Arya UnveiledUltrasone Edition 8